FTC and DOJ Approve Procedural Changes to HSR Rules and Form

The Federal Trade Commission, with the concurrence of the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, has approved amendments to the Hart-Scott-Rodino Rules and to the instructions for filling out the Antitrust Act Notification and Report Form (known also as the HSR Form).

Companies use the HSR Form to report a proposed merger, acquisition, or similar transaction under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act. The FTC will amend the HSR Rules and the HSR Form’s filing instructions to incorporate the new 10-digit North American Product Classification System, or NAPCS, codes introduced by the Census Bureau, and the updated 6-digit North American Industry Classification System, or NAICS, codes. Beginning three months from the date the notice below is published in the Federal Register, filers submitting data on non-manufacturing revenue will be required to use 6-digit NAICS codes. Filers submitting data on manufacturing revenue will be required to use new 10-digit NAPCS codes.

A notice in the Federal Register provides more information.

The Commission vote to approve the amendments to the Hart-Scott-Rodino Rules was 5-0. (FTC File No P859910; the staff contact is Robert L. Jones, 202-326-2740.)

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